Cavalry Scout Honored by USO

Defend America News ^ | Nov 4, 2005 | Mark Heeter

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U.S. Army Spc. Larry Underwood Cavalry Scout Honored by USO By Mark Heeter USAG Schweinfurt Public Affairs SCHWEINFURT, Germany, Nov. 4, 2005 — The quicker the new guys learn that they’re part of a family, the better off they’ll be. Lesson number one from Spc. Larry Underwood to Soldiers new to his unit, the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment. "Nobody out there does it alone. That goes for soldiers and units," said "Wood," as his comrades call him, reflecting on what makes a great soldier. He should know. A Silver Star and Purple Heart recipient, Underwood, 30, was honored as the United Service Organization Service Salute honoree for the U.S. Army in a ceremony in Wiesbaden Sept. 24, 2005. "I quite literally owe Spc. Underwood my life. I was in the back of a Bradley coming back from a dismounted operation with four of my soldiers and hit an IED," said 1st Lt. Tom Whitehouse, platoon leader in Anvil Troop, recalling the events of July 21, 2004. "We were stuck and the back hatch was on fire, and Wood was one of the guys that freed us and got us out safely," Whitehouse said. According to the USO, Underwood was one of five American and five German servicemembers to receive the honor, presented by Gen. Charles Wald, Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command, and Lt. Gen. Johann-Georg Dora, Bundeswehr Deputy Chief of Staff. Effective and thorough training is the core of Underwood’s personal philosophy. "One of the things that we do is to try to put as much realism into training as we can. Nothing can really 100 percent prepare you for what it’s like down there, but I think we really go the extra mile to train for it," Underwood said. "I think it really helps prepare you, maybe not for the specific situations, but having the mind set that you’re there and you just have to deal with the problem," he added. "The soldier makes the Army. You can have all the equipment, but if you don’t know what to do or how to use it, it’s really pointless," said Underwood, underscoring the warrior ideal that the soldier remains the centerpiece of the formation. "The base of knowledge that a soldier has is one of the strongest things the military has," he said.

Gen. Charles Wald, Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command, left, and Lt. Gen. Johann-Georg Dora, Deputy Chief of Staff of the German Army, flank Spc. Larry Underwood upon recognizing him as the USO Service Salute honoree for the Army. Commitment to training is one of the special attributes that "Wood" brings to his unit, according to his squad leader, Sgt. Joshua Tyler. "You train and train and train to get muscle memory, and if you don’t train as you fight, when the bullets are flying and you have to think on your feet quickly, it’s just not going to come to you," Tyler said. That quick-thinking action was something that Tyler has come to expect from Underwood, with whom he has worked for several years. Tyler cites Underwood’s reaction to the IED. "Bad things were happening; we had to get that door open and get those guys out of there. It was him thinking on his feet that allowed us to do that and save those guys," Tyler said. Underwood, who followed his brother’s footsteps into the Army, credits his wife, Monika for his success. "My wife has been a big supporter of everything I’ve done in the military. I’d like to give her the credit she deserves," he said. "The Army really takes care of your family. It’s really a give-and-take. A lot of times you don’t get the time you’d like to spend with your family, but you get a lot back for it too," he said. Next up for Underwood is helping his unit make its transformation to a lighter, airborne, cavalry unit. More Profiles

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Just know this didn't make it to the alphabet Spews.

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